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Giachero M, Belén Sacson A, Belén Vitullo M, Bekinschtein P, Weisstaub N. Targeting fear memories: Examining pharmacological disruption in a generalized fear framework. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2024; 213:107960. [PMID: 39004160 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2024.107960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Labilization-reconsolidation, which relies on retrieval, has been considered an opportunity to attenuate the negative aspects of traumatic memories. A therapeutic strategy based on reconsolidation blockade is deemed more effective than current therapies relying on memory extinction. Nevertheless, extremely stressful memories frequently prove resistant to this process. Here, after inducing robust fear memory in mice through strong fear conditioning, we examined the possibility of rendering it susceptible to pharmacological modulation based on the degree of generalized fear (GF). To achieve this, we established an ordered gradient of GF, determined by the perceptual similarity between the associated context (CA) and non-associated contexts (CB, CC, CD, and CE) to the aversive event. We observed that as the exposure context became less similar to CA, the defensive pattern shifted from passive to active behaviors in both male and female mice. Subsequently, in conditioned animals, we administered propranolol after exposure to the different contexts (CA, CB, CC, CD or CE). In males, propranolol treatment resulted in reduced freezing time and enhanced risk assessment behaviors when administered following exposure to CA or CB, but not after CC, CD, or CE, compared to the control group. In females, a similar change in behavioral pattern was observed with propranolol administered after exposure to CC, but not after the other contexts. These results highlight the possibility of indirectly manipulating a robust contextual fear memory by controlling the level of generalization during recall. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the effect of propranolol on reconsolidation would not lead to a reduction in fear memory per se, but rather to its reorganization resulting in greater behavioral flexibility (from passive to active behaviors). Finally, from a clinical viewpoint, this would be of considerable relevance since following this strategy could make the treatment of psychiatric disorders associated with traumatic memory formation more effective and less stressful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Giachero
- Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional (INCYT), CONICET, Fundación INECO, Universidad Favaloro, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Agostina Belén Sacson
- Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional (INCYT), CONICET, Fundación INECO, Universidad Favaloro, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Belén Vitullo
- Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional (INCYT), CONICET, Fundación INECO, Universidad Favaloro, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pedro Bekinschtein
- Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional (INCYT), CONICET, Fundación INECO, Universidad Favaloro, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Noelia Weisstaub
- Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional (INCYT), CONICET, Fundación INECO, Universidad Favaloro, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Kakizawa S, Arasaki T, Yoshida A, Sato A, Takino Y, Ishigami A, Akaike T, Yanai S, Endo S. Essential role of ROS - 8-Nitro-cGMP signaling in long-term memory of motor learning and cerebellar synaptic plasticity. Redox Biol 2024; 70:103053. [PMID: 38340634 PMCID: PMC10869263 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Although reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to have harmful effects in organisms, recent studies have demonstrated expression of ROS synthases at various parts of the organisms and the controlled ROS generation, suggesting possible involvement of ROS signaling in physiological events of individuals. However, physiological roles of ROS in the CNS, including functional roles in higher brain functions or neuronal activity-dependent ROS production, remain to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrated involvement of ROS - 8-NO2-cGMP signaling in motor learning and synaptic plasticity in the cerebellum. In the presence of inhibitors of ROS signal or ROS synthases, cerebellar motor learning was impaired, and the stimulus inducing long-term depression (LTD), cellular basis for the motor learning, failed to induce LTD but induced long-term potentiation (LTP)-like change at cerebellar synapses. Furthermore, ROS was produced by LTD-inducing stimulus in enzyme-dependent manner, and excess administration of the antioxidant vitamin E impaired cerebellar motor learning, suggesting beneficial roles of endogenous ROS in the learning. As a downstream signal, involvement of 8-NO2-cGMP in motor learning and cerebellar LTD were also revealed. These findings indicate that ROS - 8-NO2-cGMP signal is activated by neuronal activity and is essential for cerebellum-dependent motor learning and synaptic plasticity, demonstrating involvement of the signal in physiological function of brain systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho Kakizawa
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Graduate School and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan.
| | - Tomoko Arasaki
- Aging Neuroscience Research Team, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan
| | - Ayano Yoshida
- Aging Neuroscience Research Team, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan
| | - Ayami Sato
- Molecular Regulation of Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan
| | - Yuka Takino
- Molecular Regulation of Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan
| | - Akihito Ishigami
- Molecular Regulation of Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan
| | - Takaaki Akaike
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Molecular Toxicology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Shuichi Yanai
- Aging Neuroscience Research Team, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan
| | - Shogo Endo
- Aging Neuroscience Research Team, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan.
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Boele HJ, Jung C, Sherry S, Roggeveen LEM, Dijkhuizen S, Öhman J, Abraham E, Uvarov A, Boele CP, Gultig K, Rasmussen A, Vinueza-Veloz MF, Medina JF, Koekkoek SKE, De Zeeuw CI, Wang SSH. Accessible and reliable neurometric testing in humans using a smartphone platform. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22871. [PMID: 38129487 PMCID: PMC10739701 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49568-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Tests of human brain circuit function typically require fixed equipment in lab environments. We have developed a smartphone-based platform for neurometric testing. This platform, which uses AI models like computer vision, is optimized for at-home use and produces reproducible, robust results on a battery of tests, including eyeblink conditioning, prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle response, and startle habituation. This approach provides a scalable, universal resource for quantitative assays of central nervous system function.
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Affiliation(s)
- H J Boele
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - C Jung
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton, USA
| | - S Sherry
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton, USA
| | - L E M Roggeveen
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S Dijkhuizen
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J Öhman
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - E Abraham
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton, USA
| | | | - C P Boele
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - K Gultig
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A Rasmussen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - M F Vinueza-Veloz
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - J F Medina
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA
| | - S K E Koekkoek
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - C I De Zeeuw
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S S-H Wang
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton, USA.
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